ITPS cancels underclassmen showcase games

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 23, 2018 | 7:06 PM

Organizers want the first ITPS Cancer Sucks charity basketball games to be a controversy-free success, so they've canceled the underclassmen contests that drew critics.

Now, the focus can be basketball and cancer.

“This event had gotten some unnecessary negative attention,” organizer Shane Phillips said. “That's not what I wanted. I want to get the attention back on what the event is truly about and what it's been about from the beginning. That's raising money for cancer research.”

The games are March 31 at Chatham.

Rather than debate PIAA eligibility rules for underclassmen, organizers can promote their strong senior lineup that includes commitments from Mars' Robby Carmody, Quaker Valley's Coletrane Washington, Laurel Highlands' Bryce Laskey and former Southmoreland star Brandon Stone, all Division I recruits.

Their Pennsylvania team will face senior stars from West Virginia in the day's finale at 7:15 p.m. There's also an undercard game for seniors at 4:30 p.m., which features Woodland Hills' Amante Britt and Union's Tre Charles, among others.

The first-year event has partnered with Dr. Gregory Merrick, a Wheeling, W.Va., oncologist who organizes basketball fundraisers for cancer research. Tickets, sold only at the door, will be $10 for an individual game or $30 for the entire day. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

The ITPS games will be NBA-length with four 12-minute quarters. Between the final two games will be 3-point shooting and dunk contests, said Phillips, who wants to create an energized atmosphere.

“We're going to try to score a bunch of points,” Phillips said. “It will be a long game so we'll try to get everybody some good playing time.”

Originally, Phillips intended to start the day with two afternoon matchups for underclassmen, but faced push back from administrators worried the event could violate PIAA rules that ban underclassmen from all-star games. When the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission also expressed concern, Phillips chose to replace the underclassmen with prep school players.

“We're still going to have two phenomenal senior games, and we will fill the two other games with players that aren't associated with those two governing bodies,” Phillips said.

Also representing Pennsylvania in the 7:15 p.m. game are Allderdice's Shaun Morris, Mt. Lebanon's Antonio Garofoli, Fox Chapel's Carson Cohen, Penn Hills' Daivon Stephens and New Castle's Marcus Hooker. Coming from Eastern Pennsylvania are York's Kyree Generette and Northeastern's Fred Mulbah and Antonio Rizzuto, an Albany recruit.

Phillips, who played college basketball at South Carolina and coaches AAU for ITPS Sports, will lead the Pennsylvania team in the final. Former Penn Hills star Drew Schifino will coach the West Virginia lineup.

WPIAL players on the Pennsylvania roster at 4:30 p.m. include Freeport's Ben Beale, Central Valley's Josh Kline, Seneca Valley's David Ritchie, Elizabeth Forward's Will Greijack and New Castle's Georgie Eggleston.

“There's a weight off my shoulders,” Phillips said of the decision to exclude PIAA and WVSSAC underclassmen. “The last thing I ever wanted to do was have a situation where there might be a question about a kid's eligibility.”

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Allderdice, Central Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Laurel Highlands, Mars, Mt. lebanon, New Castle, Penn Hills, Quaker Valley, Seneca Valley